Kaizer Chiefs are fighting hard to secure a top-eight finish as they prepare to host Polokwane City on Saturday at FNB Stadium, with the possibility of missing out on the MTN8 competition for another season looming large.
Amid this challenging situation, defender Edmilson Dove has candidly admitted that the team has fallen short of expectations throughout the current campaign.
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Speaking to media during an open day at Naturena on Wednesday morning, the Mozambican international reflected on both his personal performance and the team's disappointing season.
“It is a lot of things. To compare where (Edmilson) Dove is coming from and where Dove is now. The fact is that we are just not in a good moment not only as individuals but as a team. And it is very difficult to point out the standout performances. I mean, it is part of the game. In life we will always go through those moments where things don’t go the way we want or want them to be. We can only focus on the present and the future and try to do our best every day," Dove told media.
The defender further emphasized the weight of responsibility that comes with representing Amakhosi, acknowledging that the squad has failed to live up to the club's prestigious status.
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“It is one of the biggest teams in Africa. When you come here, you come here to win titles and not to build or not find yourself in the position where we find ourselves in now. From my particular opinion, I think at some point we have failed the club. That is why we are given chances to fight with each and every opportunity and at this point in time we can’t dwell on the past. We have to look forward and see what is ahead of us. Yes, obviously we could have had a better season and done better and that is the sentiment amongst the group. But I think now we just want to focus on what we can do at the moment and that is to qualify for the top eight," Dove concluded.
Chiefs host Polokwane City on Saturday at FNB Stadium in what has become a must-win encounter if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the coveted top-eight finish and securing a place in next season's MTN8 competition.
Despite their recent Nedbank Cup triumph ending a 10-year trophy drought, the struggles in league competition have cast a shadow over what could have been a more celebratory end to their campaign. Saturday's clash now represents a critical opportunity for Chiefs to salvage some pride and ensure participation in all domestic competitions next season.
